Students characteristics and academic performance of secondary school students in economics

STUDENTS’ CHARACTERISTICS AND ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE  OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ECONOMICS IN  IKA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to investigate Students’ Characteristics and Academic Performance of Secondary School Students in Economics in Ika local Government Area. The population of the study consisted of five thousand two hundred and eighty one (5281) SS2 and SS3 Economics students in the study area. Two hundred (200) SS2 and SS3 students were sampled in four different secondary schools, using simple random sampling technique. Two were public school and two were private schools. Three (3) research hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. A structured questionnaire and Achievement test were the instruments employed for data collection.

The method of data analysis was independent t– test statistical tools. The result obtained in the study shows that there is no significant difference between male and female students in their academic performance in Economics, but there is significant difference in students’ attitude towards their academics performance in Economics, also, human relationship significantly influence the academic performance of students in Economics.

It was recommended that, Ministry of Education and schools should embark on adequate provision of learning facilities and the supervisor and inspectors of Education should endeavour that these facilities are effectively utilized for the purpose of instruction improvement.

Students characteristics and academic performance of secondary school students in economics

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1    Background to the Study

Our government has tried to make education in Nigeria what we have seen today. The students in the secondary schools are very small ages. This is the time they need help and control from the home and school around them. Unfortunately, what could be seen as the environment of the child, is seen as the environment of the child is like the home, school, the society and so on have contributed greatly towards the poor performances of students in Economics and other subjects.

There are many factors which have contributed a lot of influence in the performance of students in Economics. So, the researcher is interested in knowing how students’ characteristics such as sex, attitude and students teacher relationship affect and influence the performance of the students in Economics.

Ikpaya (2019) observed that the post natal environment of the child stretches from the family, the neighborhood to the school. a good environment is the one that more learning and promotes intellectual development. It is also the one in which learning resources such as toys, books and other aids are available and where social interactions are motivated. On the other hand, a deprived environment is the one which may star-up learning or promote intellectual development. It is devoid of such materials as toys, books, social interaction and of all associated with the low social class.

Taiwo (1981) in Edem (1999) saw between 1963 and 1990, many students in secondary school performed very poor in school subject including Economics. The trend appears to be unhealthy for the attainment of the natural goals of technological advancement and economic reconstruction.

So, the researchers check the root cause of shortage of qualified and devoted teachers, lack of proper supervision of teachers, at work by school authorities and checking of students progress by their parents and teachers as well as confuse beliefs associated with Economics among others and how they (The root causes) Influence the performance of students in Economics in Ika Local Government Area.

1.2  Statement of the Problem

In this time of scientific and technological development, the standards of academic importance in schools have been a matter of great concern to everyone. This is because a lot of criticisms have been put forward on the performance of the students in our public government school in Nigeria. The overall slogan that comes into the educational system is the “Fallen standard of Education”. 

So many social sciences educationists have to some extent conducted researches on the social characteristic variables like quality of teachers’ curriculum and places of schools and the usefulness of instructional materials. still little of this has been done on the influence of students characteristics and its effect on the academic performance of students in Economics. This is why the researcher is fascinated in checking closely to a greater extent how these characteristics affects academic performance of students in Economics.

Students characteristics and academic performance of secondary school students in economics

1.3    Purpose of the Study

The main purpose of this study is to examine the effect of student’s characteristics on their academic performance in Economics in Ika Local Government Area.

Specifically, the study seeks to examine:

1. How sex difference influence students’ academic performance in Economics.
2. How students’ attitude influences their academic performance in Economics.
3. How human relationship in school influence the students’ academic performance in Economics.

1.4  Significance of the Study

The study would be of great benefit to the teachers as it will help them to know if parents are working for their children’s high interest or reduce interest in Economics. The findings of this study will help to decide the area and directions where counseling services are necessary.

To the classroom teachers, the study can stimulate them to develop the necessary empathy for children especially those from poor homes. For students, the findings will help to star-up their minds towards giving good attention to their studies. The study helps the parents to take their mind in providing their children with good materials that will help them to improve their performance in Economics.

Again, the society in general, the suggestion and recommendations given in this study, if properly carried-out, will go a long way to change the educational system in Nigeria. The students’ themselves will gain from the result of the study, this is because it will bring about a change of attitude in their study life.

The result of this study will act as bench mark for further studies in this area. The Ministry of Education and other policy makers will find the result of these studies as useful tools for formulation and implementation.

1.5    Research Questions

The following questions were formulated to guide the study:

• To what extent does sex difference influence students’ academic performance in Economics in Ika Local Government Area?
• To what extent does students’ attitude influence students’ academics performance in Economics in Ika Local Government Area?
• To what extent does human relationship influence students’ academic performance in Economics in Ika Local Government Area?

Students characteristics and academic performance of secondary school students in economics

1.6  Research Hypotheses

The following null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study:

1. There is no significant difference in sex difference of students and their academic performance in Ika Local Government Area.
2. Students’ attitude does not significantly influence their academic performance in Economics in Ika Local Government Area.
3. Human relationship in the school does not significantly influence students’ performance in Economics in Ika Local Government Area.

1.7  Limitations of the Study

Certain limitations are bound to take place when writing a research study. They are as follows:

1. The time given for the completion of the study was not enough to make a research like these to have a wider scope.
2. Financial power makes pressure also in the study as the researcher scarcely had enough money to make enlarge the scope of the study.

1.8    Delimitation of the Study

This research work was delimited to public and private secondary schools in urban and rural setting of Ika Local Government Area. The discussion or analysis will also focus on students’ sex difference, students’ attitude and human relationship in the school.

1.9  Definitions of Terms

For this study, the following terms are defined to help for easy understanding of the study:

Academic Performance: This is seen as an outcome or result the students get after understanding of a performance.

Human Relationship: Human relationship in this context refers to the interaction and relationship that live among the students and the teacher.

Secondary School: This refers to second level of education obtained by an individual under the age of twelve (12) years above.

Students: The students in this context include those that get into the learning process in the secondary school setting.

Sex Differences: it refers to the differences in sex for example, male and female.

Attitude: The attitude or character the students have toward their studies. 

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